Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

I’m really looking forward to the next godswap. The countdown begins! Three more left for this year. Next week we will be talking about “personal development”. This can be following a long standing tradition or figuring out your own. A lot of people may find that their path is a combination of the 2. I’ve been really trying to expand my awareness to find another path to develop, but I guess I may just have to wait and see what shows up.

When I think of existing traditions, there is so much to respect in the fact that the practices have existed so much longer than I myself have. Personally, I have a short attention span and would find it really hard to commit to something of that nature. Observing others taking to it, makes me more aware of the beauty of our differences. We can all have a spiritual path, it’s just unlikely that every path will suit everyone.

When I think of creating a path I get excited! I think of the people I know who are just doing their best to find things they love and come closer to them. In its simplest form I don’t see a spiritual/inspirational path as being much different than that. People really passionate about whatever it is that they do may not even think about it in terms of being a spiritual practice.

I find it’s often the case, people need only to be asked and they can see things that were there, but went unnoticed. Over the summer I was talking to a kid in the desert (you know, like you do…). He was happy to put into words that his religion is fun and play. He really enjoys consciously putting play and fun into the world. He believes it makes the world a better place to live in and adds unquantifiable meaning to his life. He participates in “flashmobs”. Events that coordinate people into silly, fun, sometimes political, sometimes for no reason at all, displays of play. You can often find him and his friends doing dance numbers in big box stores, sending grown people down steep hills riding big wheels, having pillow fights in the streets, and really making excellent use of marching bands, bright colors, clown make-up, and unusual fabric textures. If you see them out, play along, it’s pretty sweet!

Have you created your own path? Would you like to share a path handed down to you or adopted from another culture?

Would you be interested in hosting your own godswap? Want to get your friends together and deepen your understanding of one another? Please email me a godswap@gmail.com. I’m looking to start having these events hosted in new venues, maybe your church, gym, or local dive bar.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to offer comments and suggestions in the comment section below.

As the end of the year approaches, so does the end of our lab time here at godswap. I’ve been hosting events locally, mostly to prove that it is indeed possible to have these amazing conversations with mutual respect. It’s not always perfect, but people really want to understand one another. Given tools to do so, they are all too willing to listen and share.

The next step will be compiling all the data into a comprehensive manual . This will be available free of charge so that you can have these events anywhere you feel inspired.

I’ll also be taking this message and medium to where ever they will have me. Would you like to have a godswap hosted at your church, temple, gym, or coffee house? Would you be interested in having me speak about this process at your school, rec center, or local dive bar? Bookings page @ godswap.com, coming soon.

I’m committed to this work and making it accessible to anyone willing to play. These first 2 years have been mind blowing on many fronts. Things I didn’t expect have become a part of my daily life, seamlessly. It’s easier for me to have curiosity about the experiences of others. I’m more open and welcoming to new ways of thinking. I find myself excited to learn things I’ve never thought of with new friends. It’s easy for me to be fearless, creative, and accepting of my own inspiration, especially the unique parts.

As with all things communal, I need your help. Those of you who have been able to make it out for a live swap, write a review about your experience. Have you tried to have these conversations at home with your friends? How has your experience with godswap influenced your experiences elsewhere? What do you think is the most important aspect of godswap – the listening, the being heard, the special handshake? If you were to change anything what would it be?

If you haven’t made it out to godswap, what kinds of things do you need to make you feel safe discussing your inspiration? Are you drawn to understanding the inspirational paths of others? Are there things in the world that we could understand better with a better understanding of the individuals affected?

There are only 3 godswaps left on the schedule! If you’ve been curious and just haven’t found the time in the last couple years, now is the time. If you love that I get excited and just want to help, show up and cheer me on. If you’ve been here before and would like to confirm your experience before writing a review, that would really help! If you’ve sent money and would like to see how your resources are being used, check it out.

Hi there! Rumors of my death are hella exaggerated. It’s unfortunate that immediately after my little vacation I am unavailable to write due to the general necessities of life. I’ve been in a classroom where typing would be disruptive. I have done my best to keep tabs on the site and it’s really awesome to see so many comments and people supporting the work. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I’ve been bouncing in my seat everyday when I go to see more.

While I’ve been away, I’ve started a practice of reading sacred scripture. I hear about religious folks doing it all the time, they must be getting something from it. As with any part of my spiritual practice I open my heart to see what I really want out of the actions proposed.

What is sacred text? It’s my understanding that it is a collection of stories meant to inspire the reader to his/her highest self. Using those inspired by their god(s) as an example of how to behave in the most troubling of times. Some see it as a test of our worthiness. I see the awareness of the test itself as proof of worth. Though I must accept that it’s not for me to decide anything other than my perception… What would I do? If … when my god(s) test me … have they already? Did I pass? Is this a pass/fail situation? I look to the examples of my elders through, what I conciser, sacred writings.

They offer huge questions, some I’d never considered. They hope to offer answers, from complex ritual to simple inaction, from pacifism to violence, from prayer to silence. They are created out of the images that we will recognize so that we feel safe exposing our darkest secrets, vulnerabilities, and fears. The more familiar the more we are capable of trusting. There are countless ways of building that trust. Different people, even when worshiping the same god(s), will be called to them by different things.

There are no stories I love more than fiction. I believe it gives the storyteller more space to explore the options of tragedy without having to actually be tragic. The stories of my faith are fantasy and science fiction. The most important, to me, is cyber-punk.

“Classic cyberpunk characters were marginalized, alienated loners who lived on the edge of society in generally dystopic futures where daily life was impacted by rapid technological change, an ubiquitous datasphere of computerized information, and invasive modification of the human body.” – Lawrence Person (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberpunk)

The one distinction that makes cyberpunk special to me is there is always a part of the story that is virtual. Critical parts of the story involve characters putting their consciousness into a computer and doing things in there. Thing brings up many questions about the nature of consciousness. What is it? Is the body we know necessary to have it? It expands my respect for animate things and inanimate. How am I to know for sure what is sentient? I don’t. Cyberpunk teaches me to question even my most basic assumptions. Also, really important to me is that the protagonist is often someone who doesn’t seem like a good guy. The hero of the story is often faced with difficult choices around survival of self and survival of humanity. There is never a clear right answer. As with life, the hero is forced to juggle the complicated needs of both. Its really easy for me to relate to it all on a much deeper level than what I find in traditional scriptures.

I’ve created my religion out of the images I trust in popular culture. It only make sense to me to find the sages of this time and sages of the possible future for guidance. Admittedly, the authors have little faith in humanity. However, their impossible questions aren’t all that different than what I’ve found in the Judeo-Christian bible. To me science fiction seems more real. It’s closer to what my heart knows. My heart feels safe learning there.

Learn about this and how you explore your inspiration at godswap LIVE

Our topic will be “applying inspiration daily/regularly”
Monday July 5th, 2010
2519 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Suggested donation is $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.

I get that this is that day after 4th of July and I plan on making this happen. If no one else shows up, I’ll be reading.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to offer comments and suggestions in the comment section below.
The god(s) in me honor the god(s) in you. Let’s go play.

Well I’m back after a short vacation. Vacations are always too short, but I’m back to get my swap on. Welcome new readers who’ve found my site now that I get listed in search engines! It’s really exciting seeing how quickly things change when you switch hosts!!! (dreamhost.com)

Next month our topic will be “signs/messages”. Do you believe that your god(s) reach out to you with signs or messages? If so, what form do they take? How do your god(s) leave makers in your life’s path? Do your god(s) direct you in that way? Are the signs you see passive or are they orders? Have you never experienced such a thing and are curious how this shows up for others?

There are moments for me where things are so synchronized, I can’t help but feel it’s purpose. Recent signs in my life have been around my relationship to service. I love being of service! It makes me really happy to know I’m useful in some way. Recently my god(s) have shown me the ways that I can end up putting others before myself in unhelpful ways. Basically this looks like getting worn out and not being able to fulfill my obligations. To the eye of an outsider, this just looks like the trial and error that makes up life.

To me, I choose to see the hands of my god(s) at work. I choose to see the lesson, message, sign, etc. I’ve worked so hard for my god(s), my signs recently are pointing to “work-aholic”. My work ethic is getting in the way of my god(s) work for me by wearing me out. Now, I love this work. I love reminding people that their relationship to whatever inspires them is theirs, no one else has the power to dictate it for them! Watching people bloom with that empowerment is amazing!!! I’m all too quick to believe that it’s more important than sleep or other self-care.

Sometimes it’s something as simple as seeing a picture on the internet of an animal or image that reminds me of a friend. I take this as a sign that I would like to call them.

In life you will experience and see many things, to the outside observer, that appear mundane. However, your personal experience about said “thing” has the potential for you to see something in addition to that. Your Inspiration will often add itself to what you see and experience. Some people relate to animals and will often see images of them when they are headed toward what their god(s) are guiding them to. Some people move toward the direction that the fear comes from. Lucky pennies, shooting stars, and superstitions are all used in this way to some degree or another by those that believe in their powers. I could be something no one else could see or know, a feeling in your body, your favorite color, or connections to old memories, that signify a message is being sent.

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!

Please help keep this alive. Donate what you can to help godswap in our effort to make our god(s) fun to share!

Money is always accepted, but time is, too.
Ways you can help godswap:

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!

I have concluded the godswap church/cathedral tour! In my efforts to reach out to the religious community, I’ve started going to various houses of worship. I started with the Christians partly because we use the same lexicon, also it’s America and there are churches all over the place, and it’s actually hard to just walk into some places. I’ve spoken with folks from every type of Christian denomination you can imagine. I’ve left a lot of voice mails that haven’t been returned and talked to folks that were quite clearly “no”s. I also spoke to people who were really interested. There are lots of people who want to know more and come check it out. Most importantly, there are people who are doing similar work!

The Episcopalians started the United Religions Initiative and Grace Cathedral is, “a house of prayer for all people”. My tour began there at the EpiscoDisco. It’s what is my opinion the 2nd hottest name in interfaith action! There were several moments that stood out to me. I talked to people, made critical connections with the man who organizes this party and a reporter for the SF Chronicle. My favorite moment was realizing I was in a Christian cathedral, that has a prayer labyrinth in the middle of the dance floor, while they were playing Hot Chip. That right there is hot godswapping action! They already know how to play this game!!!

My second stop was the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. Last week was the “Interfaith Youth Leadership Summit”. This adventure lead me to a room full of high school students. I’m debating bringing the godswap conversation to high schools. The idea of consenting adults aids my illusion of safety. I’ll likely be over it soon. In the mean time I ran into a friend from URI who recognized me from the Circles of Lights dinner. He was one of the organizers for the event that day and was very helpful getting me connected with a few more folks, most notably the director for the San Francisco Interfaith Council.

Something about being in 2 cathedrals in 1 week, they are beautiful!!! I’ve never really spent any time in them before. It’s all art dedicated to the god(s) of these people, the tapestries, paintings, sculptures and of course the building itself. I’ve never looked at them with that lens before, ever. Grace is a more classicly styled long rectangle building with many peaks filled with stained glass that, while looking up, you almost don’t notice the gray walls. I think the area up front for, what I assume, is the choir and organist, is about half the size of the main seating area for my mother’s church. They must be able to seat 100’s in the pews of the main seating. It was definitely stunning and surrounded you with beauty.

St. Mary’s is a much newer style. It’s certainly a unique landmark while driving past. Inside the huge tower made of cement and stained glass, it’s remarkably bright. I was there while the sun was setting. Color from the windows was splashing all over the walls, covered with tapestries and paintings. It looked like Superman’s ice fortress in full color. There is a huge cement pedestal with the organ pipes displayed on top. On the stage people were rehersing what was to be an interfaith service for the night. Children were singing traditional Sikh prayers.

Yesterday afternoon I made it to my final stop, Unitarian UniversalistYoung Adult Network was having their bi-monthly lunch after service. These are the folks that I have no doubt understand how we play. They have a workshop for creating your own religion! Much like the Christians this church is beautiful and filled with art. There is more kid’s art, though, by a lot! I had a fun time with the young adult group. We talked about books, bikes, and burlesque. I made connections with critical folks and I hope to see 1 or 2 at the next event.

Oh yeh, godswap is next week! Have a tradition, new or old, that you’d like to share?

Please help keep this alive. Donate what you can to help godswap in our effort to make our god(s) fun to share!

Money is always accepted, but time is, too.
Ways you can help godswap:

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!

I’m getting my mind primed for next months discussion on “traditions”. Over the weekend I realized I don’t really know what the word itself means. My good friend wikipedia.org has informed me that:

The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem, acc. of traditio which means “handing over, passing on”, and is used in a number of ways in the English language:

1. Beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next, often orally. For example, we can speak of the tradition of sending birth announcements.
2. A set of customs or practices. For example, we can speak of Christmas traditions.
3. A broad religious movement made up of religious denominations or church bodies that have a common history, customs, culture, and, to some extent, body of teachings. For example, one can speak of Islam’s Sufi tradition or Christianity’s Lutheran tradition.

For the purposed of this talk we will talk about traditions from two sides. What spiritual traditions did your parents/elders teach you? What traditions have you created that you would like to pass on to future generations?

For me there are many things I learn from culture and elders about how to honor spirit. What is really powerful to me is the ways I’m able to effect not only the generations after me, but also the generation before. I’ve been fortunate there are several moments that I have had an opportunity to influence tradition in my family as being healthier or acknowledging changing social needs. For example, the candy that comes with many holidays, isn’t as much a part of my families traditions as we now have a family history of diabetes. Other shifts I’ve seen involve sacred animals that are perhaps endangered or extinct. What does one do for bon fires in areas with no open flame laws? If a priceless relic breaks, sometimes the only thing available to replace it is at your local Walmart. Things made by hand and blessed by holy (wo)men cost more money. Students maybe settling for something machine made, but none the less, it holds the same place to them. These are concessions that are made as culture changes. To me it doesn’t change the meaning of the experience. I have yet to feel a difference in my body using homemade candles VS Safeway candles. More often then not, in my life, it’s about accepting what is and letting go of hard traditions in favor of new, easier ones.

That’s not to say that I don’t have profound respect for those that don’t make those concessions, or do so only when absolutely necessary. There are many groups who are willing to isolate themselves before making changes to there spiritual practice and are happy and getting what they need in life. That basically gets to my point. Whatever it takes for you to be happy and getting what you need in life. That’s what traditions are for universally. It’s the elders teaching the good stuff to the next generation, whatever that “good stuff” is.

If you can’t make it to our live events, feel free to participate online. Join the facebook fan page to upload your videos about how you relate to your god(s) (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117283251633938). You can talk about your traditions, new and old, or anything going on for you in this moment with your god(s).

Please help keep this alive. Donate what you can to help godswap in our effort to make our god(s) fun to share!

Money is always accepted, but time is, too.
Ways you can help godswap:

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!

I want to start by welcoming any newcomers we might have who are visiting godswap from the houses of worship throughout San Francisco and the bay area. I’ve made maybe a hundred phone calls this week reaching out to people from as many religious backgrounds as I can think of – and, after doing a ton of research on google, some I’ve actually never even heard of!

To that point – if you know a house of worship, ecstatic/tantra/holistic/organic school, dance/gardening/martial arts/sculpting class, etc. (anything in your life that offers you inspiration that you liken to a spiritual practice), and you think others would enjoy sharing that spiritual practice with godswappers, please reach out and let me know.

Godswap gives every path a witness. It’s a little different then your usual exchange in a temple. In a temple you will only see one – or maybe a few views which are generally processed with your known relationship to your god(s). At godswap, we hear the views of anyone willing to share. With the addition of these new viewpoints, your views, in turn, become more expansive.

Another difference between godswap and more “traditional” places of worship is our use of language. Organized houses of worship have pre-established definitions of words they deem important. At godswap, we accept a more fluid use of language. Frankly, I’m really bad about keeping words straight. I have the set of words I grew up with, and it’s actually hard to update my vocabulary around what (to me) is a simple basic concept. I’m willing to expand my definition of a word before switching to a different word. For example “god” is the word I’m accustomed to using to label my higher power, but I’ve also expanded it to include anything that inspires me and adds unquantifiable and/or immeasurable value to my life. I’ve compromised by writing “god(s)” instead of a long string of options and examples. A lot of people disagree with me – and I’m ok with that. Why? Because I’m confidant that my god(s) know what i’m talking about.

How does this help us understand one another? In the outside world, it doesn’t it. More often than not, it gets in the way. We’ve all created our own meanings for these really important words. Trying to “agree” becomes impossible, because the words we are using to understand one another aren’t being used in the same way. In life, conflict often breeds violence. In godswap, we flow. We ask questions to understand what other people are meaning by the words they choose. Being righteous doesn’t serve anyone. You may be “right,” but proving it to me (at whatever cost) doesn’t necessarily bring us closer to understanding each other.

It’s hard to see the faces of a movement, or government, or congregation. In godswap, we think on a smaller scale, face to face. Baby steps to win the race, as we get farther together then we ever could apart!

Why so serious? It doesn’t have to be. I don’t know about your god(s), but mine have a wicked sense of humor. The flow is in play! We’re here to share with friends. Join us.

Our topic will be “traditions”
May 3rd @ 7:30pm (PST)
2519 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Suggested donation is $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.

Or if you just can’t wait to swap live, meet me Sunday April 18, 2010. I will be at Ocean Beach with the Surfrider Foundation doing beach clean up. (http://www.sfsurfrider.org/)

If you can’t make it to our live events, feel free to participate online. Join the facebook fan page to upload your videos about how you relate to your god(s) (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117283251633938). You can talk about your traditions, new and old, or anything going on for you in this moment with your god(s).

Please help keep this alive. Donate what you can to help godswap in our effort to make our god(s) fun to share!

Money is always accepted, but time is, too.
Ways you can help godswap:

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!

* I found a special necklace that has been missing for a couple months now. Saturday morning I woke at 2am for no reason. After futzing about for an hour or more my bathrobe released it onto my comforter! I was so happy I couldn’t hope to get back to sleep…

* I manged to combine all the parties, some TV, and all my chores without much hassle.

* I went dancing and stayed till the club closed.

* I did one run in the Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race, in the rain. I was soaked by the time I got back up the hill. It was awesome!!! Bonus Miracle: My friend drove me there and back so I didn’t suffer in the cold long.

* I had an amazing conversation with my dad.

These things may seem mundane. To me it’s about seeing the divine in everything around me and every little thing the universe has to add to my life, good and bad. I am obviously a fan of creating spiritual expression in whatever you do, or simply observing what is already there.

It never ceases to amaze me how people simply don’t give themselves permission to open their hearts and find a spiritual practice out of whatever they do. If you really want to get fancy try to find a spiritual practice with the things you don’t like! Can you see a divine purpose in hard times?

Once permission is given it’s so incredibly easy! It’s like breathing after you get those first few sputters and chokes to clear the system. It may have never been accessed before. In godswap we often watch people access their spiritual practice with the acknowledgment of being heard for the first time in their lives. They light up! Their smile can be felt throughout the room. They haven’t ever thought about things using the filter of faith. It adds immeasurable value to whatever you do, to open your heart to the divine in the “mundane” details of life. I only offer that you don’t sell those moments short. Everyone has power.

As powerful as those moments are to you, they are just as powerful for different reasons to others. Having that blessing is best shared by allowing others to have there own experience. It does not take away from or even change your experience.

Teaching this to people through godswap is our goal. Yes, you may have a long standing religious heritage with a large temple and sacred writings you share with all your friends and family, you may also have a silly story about how fairies keep you in integrity with your god(s), or that gardening your own food keeps you in touch with your source, or any, all, none, something different, or a variety of these things: at godswap we sit at the same table. That is the miracle i’d like to offer you today.

Come tell us about your miracles.
April 5th @ 7:30pm (PST)
2519 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Suggested donation is $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.

If you can’t make it to our live event, feel free to participate online. Join the facebook fan page to upload your videos about how you relate to your god(s)(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117283251633938). You can talk about miracles and blessings, or anything going on for you in this moment with your god(s).

Please help keep this alive. Donate what you can to help godswap in our effort to make sharing your faith fun!

Money is always accepted, but time is, too.
Ways you can help godswap:

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!

Next week, we come together to talk about “miracles/blessings.” I’ve really been enjoying expanding my definition of miracles/blessings to include things in my daily routine.

For instance, today, I was given an opportunity to not only get the costs of our godswap venue through a grant – but I was also given the role of actually setting up the grant system for the entire venue. This is really exciting! Getting godswap granted space would have been fairly easy. I know everyone at the venue who’s in charge, personally… The trick to this is actually creating something sustainable for godswap and the venue. This isn’t just about free rent. More importantly, it’s about leaving something better than you found it. I love Mission Control for being there from the beginning supporting this “crazy god talk”. They have opened the space and have helped open hearts to the goodness that is guilt-free faith. Now, we will be able to offer that little boost to other new events, too. That’s my miracle today.

Come tell us about your miracles.
April 5th @ 730pm (PST)
2519 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
Suggested donation is $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.

I recently started working on the next level of godswap: Video! I have produced 3 videos – and have received one reply! A volley means that game is on! I have new ideas for videos and will be releasing them weekly. Find out more in the godswap fan page on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=88595092653). Join to post your own video about how you relate to your god(s).

The journey to host my videos online has revealed something I was aware of – but didn’t really “get.” The Judea/Christian bias around the word “god” in this country. I posted a video on Vimeo and the next day noticed an ad stating, “Find the one TRUE God” directly below my vid. Um, that doesn’t work for me! However, the irony was hilarious… I pulled my videos and wrote a letter to the help desk asking them what (if any) control I have over google ads appearing next to my postings. I have none, great.

Here’s the thing, if that add said, “White people are the BEST!” no one would stand for it. Like gender, race, or sexual orientation, religion is a deep part of how we identify ourselves. Absently assuming that anything is “right” or “true” only isolates and invalidates everyone not associated with that one idea. Given the nature of the world and the beauty of the many cultures, it doesn’t even make sense to me that people would want that!

I was in a class this weekend, learning about breathwork with David Elliott (http://www.thereluctanthealer.com/). During the class, while meditating, “Imagine” came through the sound system. I’m not really into the Beatles. John Lennon seemed like he was a cool dude, but I would like to imagine something else…

I imagine a world where everyone can be proud of their country, have faith in their god(s) – and no one has a desire to kill others who disagree with them. Culture is like color, the world is really boring without it. The work here is about that imagined world – where the world can live as one, and we can still tell one from another. What do you imagine?

Please help keep this alive. Please donate what you can to help godswap in our effort to bring mutual respect to the interfaith discussion.

Money is always accepted, but time is, too.
Ways you can help godswap:

*Come early or stay late to help assist me during the event, to answer the door after the discussing has started, brew tea, set up, or tear down the space.

*Host your own godswap event. Would you be interested in learning how to facilitate this event and are willing to be my guinea pig while I figure out how to put what I do into words that other people will understand?

*Send me interesting current events. I can use people who spend time during the week finding interesting news articles that would be fun to add to a godswap newsfeed.

*Write an introduction for any of our upcoming topics. If you have special thoughts about a particular topic coming up and would like to write the introduction, I am totally into that. Send me a draft.

*Make a video. If you have a really creative spiritual path, produce a short video showcasing it. I’d be happy to post it to the site!